Novena–St. Paul–The Apostle of Love, Day 5

DAY 5
Special request: Finding and maintaining gainful employment and comforting us in time of grief.

Prayer

Beloved Apostle Paul may our faith, labor and hope be a cause for you to give thanks to God in eternity. Like the Thessalonians, we desperately need your prayers so that we can be kept sound in body, soul and spirit and face the day of the Lord with a clean conscience. We know that God will always remain faithful but we fear our own weakness and inconstancy. You rejoiced because the Thessalonians accepted you as a brother and adopted you as one of their own and you in turn were as gentle with them as a mother nursing her infant (1 Thes. 2:7). We sincerely invite you into our families and our lives so that you can nurture us with the Gospel. You urged the Thessalonians to live quiet lives of productive labor supporting themselves and their families (1 Thes 4:11-21). Help us do the same. When unemployed, help us find work. When working help us share what we can with others. Assist us and our family members in overcoming the vice of laziness (1 Thes. 5: 14) and every other evil that tempts us. Help us especially carry out the works of faith so that God can be made manifest in our lives. St. Paul pray for us that we may prove worthy of the call God has given us even in times of sorrow and grief. When we are heartbroken because we have lost someone in death, pray for us and console us with the truth of the resurrection just as you comforted the Thessalonians when you were on earth (1 Thes. 4:13-18). This consolation will help us be constant in hope and steadfast in our faith. This is the faith that gives us a peace that the world can never understand or grasp. Through our faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus we hope one day to be with you in eternity praising the God who loves us beyond anything we can imagine. Amen

Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory be

Background

The First Letter to the Thessalonians is the earliest inspired writing of the New Testament. It dates from around the year 50AD. The events surrounding the letter can be found in Acts 16:6 to 18:5. The letter is very moving and St. Paul’s affectionate nature is apparent throughout. He loved and was loved by the believing community in Thessalonica.

St. Paul’s Prayers and Thoughts:

1 Thessalonians 1:2 “We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly calling to mind before our God and Father your active faith, your loving labors and your steadfast hope in the Lord Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit, soul and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls us is faithful and He will do it! Brothers pray for us too!”

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 “We pray always that this will come to pass for you, that God will consider you worthy of his call, and that by his power He will fulfill every desire for goodness and every work of faith, so that the name of the Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in it, in accordance with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.”